Wikidata is a free, collaboratively edited, multi-lingual secondary database that provides structured data to support Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons and other Wikimedia projects. It will be instrumental in helping the association reach its goal of raising quality standards (see 2012 budget). The Wikidata project aims to create a free knowledge database that both people and machines can read and update. Data will be available in all Wikipedia languages by the end of the project’s first year in March 2013.

Many Wikipedia articles contain facts and links to other articles, e.g. about a country’s population statistics or an actor’s place of birth, which are presented in a way that is difficult for a machine to read. Wikidata will enable information to be entered into the system in a way that allows a computer to process it. Computers can then provide this information in a variety of languages, produce overviews, lists, and diagrams or answer questions that could not be automatically generated before. In addition, Wikidata will provide a form-based interface, where data is entered in a way that allows it to be processed further.

Important milestones

M1 (Q3 2012) - Language links are incorporated into the Wikidata central repository and then used in the Wikipedias.

M2 (Q4 2012) - First working version of Wikidata and testing in cooperation with first Wikipedia communities.

M3 (early 2013) - Development of data-entry interfaces; step by step improvement of the system and options for presenting data.

The RENDER project is designed to help authors and readers to locate, understand and improve Wikipedia articles that are not written in an objective or balanced way. In 2013, the third and final year of the project, we will test and evaluate two tools we have developed: the Article Statistics and Quality Monitor, and the Task List Generator. When the project concludes on September 30, 2013, Wikipedia will have two support tools to help readers and authors work with and use Wikipedia.

The RENDER tools effectively enable Wikimedia Deutschland to support the creation of quality content, provide further information and encourage readers to become active Wikipedians themselves.

In 2013 we will test the tools in cooperation with Wikipedia readers and authors. We will organize test series with different user groups and then evaluate the results. The tools will then be modified accordingly.

The milestones align with the work packages for the RENDER project:

September 30, 2013 (D5.1.3) – Understanding the effects of the defined diversity and quality metrics (see D5.1.1) on Wikipedia.

Wikimedia Deutschland’s headquarters are intended to serve as a contact point for everyone committed to the cause of free knowledge. Its current premises on Obentrautstraße in Berlin only provide enough room for hosting smaller events.

In 2013 we want to extend our options by finding a suitable location for bringing the House of Free Knowledge concept to life.

With the support of our external partners, we want to set up a location where the association can regularly host events such as conferences, seminars and workshops. The House of Free Knowledge should serve as a community space open to all Wikimedians and other supporters of the cause, equipped with a range of support tools to help people in their work for free knowledge. More technical equipment will be acquired and made available for use with as little red tape as possible. We will regularly host events with cooperation partners here, and provide space and opportunity for the informal exchange of ideas.